The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories Topics for Discussion

This Study Guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more -
everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories.

Who is the narrator in The Diary of a Madman? Why does he think he does not have to report to work at the same time as the others? Who does the narrator see on the street one morning? Why does the narrator become fascinated with two dogs on the street? What does the narrator steal from one of the dogs' houses? Who does the narrator come to believe he is? For what reason? Where is the narrator taken at the end of the story? Where does the narrator believe he is? Where is he really?

What is the Viy? What does the author's note at the beginning of the story tell the reader about the Viy? Who is Thomas Brutus? Where does he meet a strange old woman? Why does the old woman ride on Thomas' back? How does Thomas get the old woman off of...